Former state legislator donates $1M to Cape Fear Valley Health School of Medicine
Methodist University's Cape Fear Valley Health School of Medicine received a $1 million donation from Fayetteville businessman Norwood Bryan Jr., a long-time friend and donor to the university, university President Stanley T. Wearden announced last week.
“Norwood Bryan’s gift is an act of extraordinary and selfless generosity,” Wearden said in a news release. “I have great respect for Mr. Bryan as one of Fayetteville’s most inspiring success stories and as a genuine servant leader in the community. His $1 million gift to the medical school is a true legacy gift.”
In February, Wearden and Cape Fear Valley Health CEO Michael Nagowski announced a partnership between the entities to form a medical school. The new school, to be located on the campus of Cape Fear Valley Medical Center in Fayetteville, will provide students with educational and clinical experiences, combining the expertise and resources of both institutions. The name of the medical school was chosen to recognize and honor Cape Fear Valley Health’s pledge of "long-term financial support," the news release said.
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“Mr. Bryan’s generosity gives us an exceptional boost in getting the medical school started, and it also will help the medical school successfully thrive for many years to come,” Wearden said, describing Bryan as a community leader and public servant in Fayetteville, the region, and state. “I am personally grateful to Mr. Bryan, as is the entire Methodist University community.”
The key goals of MU’s medical education program are to "educate a diverse population of expertly trained medical doctors attentive to the needs of rural and underserved populations, and to become a national leader in interprofessional, team-based medical education," the release said. It expects to have its first class of medical students in 2026.
“I am glad to support this remarkable project that will bring extraordinary benefits to the Fayetteville area,” Bryan said in the release. “I encourage others to put their oar in the water at this stage of the campaign.”
By the mid-1970s, the Yale Law School-educated Bryan recreated the automobile dealership his father started in 1945 and became president of Bryan Pontiac-Cadillac-Honda, leaving behind a four-term public service post as a representative in the North Carolina House of Representatives.
"Bryan has served his community in many capacities, including as trustee of the North Carolina Environmental Defense Fund, sponsor for the Museum of the Cape Fear Complex, chairman of the U.S.S. North Carolina Battleship Commission, and he has held numerous offices in the North Carolina Automobile Dealers Association including state president," the release said.
Methodist University named Bryan as Business Person of the Year in 2002.
“We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Norwood Bryan Jr., a generous long-time Methodist University friend and donor, for his $1-million gift towards the creation of our medical school in Fayetteville,” said Nagowski. “His support aligns perfectly with our mission to provide exceptional healthcare as well as our value of education, which enables us to make a lasting impact on our community's well-being.”
MU is already a top university in the region for higher education in the health sciences, with state-of-the-art facilities on campus that include a general simulation hospital, human anatomy lab, motion analysis lab, and several other labs and facilities housing Physician Assistant, Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Nursing, and other programs.
"This is an incredible beginning of our journey to bring a medical school to this community,” said Dr. Rakesh Gupta, chair of the MU Board of Trustees.
This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Million dollars given to Methodist/Cape Fear valley School of Medicine
